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BEASTofTURIN

It happened today...

Exactly 100 Years ago, Italy entered in war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, during the First World War.
650.000 Italian soldiers gave their lives on the East Alpine front, and forever they will be remembered as heroes of the Fatherland for having defended it from the invading enemy.

Several songs were written to pay homage to the soldiers, the most famous (at least in Italy) is the famous "Song of Piave" (or also known as "Il Piave murmur" and "The Legend of Piave).

Here the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqcK2boZLM

And the English translation:

The Piave whispered calm and placid under the crossing
of the first infantry on may 24;
the army headed to the frontier
to make a wall against the enemy!
The soldiers crossed silently that night
they had to be silent and go forward.

From the beloved river banks we heard
light and low the exultation of the waves.
It was a sweet and propitious omen.
The Piave whispered: the foreigner shall not pass!

But a sad night we heard of a gloomy event
and the Piave felt the angry and the dismay
Ah, how many people it saw coming, leaving their homes;
because the enemy won at Caporetto.
Refugees everywhere, from far mountains,
they came to crowd all the bridges.

(Interesting note: the early version of the song
had instead the following lines:
a gloomy event = a betrayal
because the enemy won at Caporetto
for the shame accomplished at Caporetto.
This was because the disaster was charged upon the
units defending the Plezzo's hollow; it was later
discovered that these poor units had been annihilated
by the gas bombardment and were innocent)

We heard from the violated river-banks
light and sad the murmur of the waves
Like a sob in that black autumn
the Piave whispered: the foreigner returns!

And the enemy returned: he wished to wreak his desires
because of his pride and his hunger,
he saw the fertile plains from the upper ground,
he wanted to feed and to exult again!
They will not, the Piave and the infantry said,
the enemy will never advance again!

We saw the Piave raising his waves
the waves fighting along the infantry.
Red with the blow of the haughty enemy,
the Piave ordered: go back, foreigner!

The enemy went back to Trieste, to Trento
and the victory spreaded her wings!
among the ranks we saw Oberdan, Sauro and Battisti alive!
In the end the italian valour broke the
gallows tree and the weapons of the hanger!

(Note: Guglielmo Oberdan, Nazario Sauro and Cesare Battisti
were Italian patriots, they were from the Italian part of the
Austrian empire and thus they were Austrian citizens.
 Howewer Sauro and Battisti entered the Italian army in 1915
and during the war both received medals for bravery but were
later captured and sentenced to death by the Austrians)

Secured the Alps, free the shores
the Piave was silent, the waves calmed.
Once the grim empires were won, the peace didn't left
any oppressed neither any foreigner on the motherland's soil.

Once the grim empires were won, the peace didn't left
any oppressed neither any foreigner on the motherland's soil.
Viewed: 8 times
Added: 5 years, 10 months ago
 
moyomongoose
5 years, 10 months ago
Nice song.
From the English translation in the description, it's obvious it was quite a struggle.
BEASTofTURIN
5 years, 10 months ago
Yes, this song was (and still has) to serve to make understand the sacrifice made by the Italian soldiers to protect Italy from invasion. Not like now...
. I remember that, during elementary school, a teacher made us sing several songs (including this one) when we moved on foot to go for educational visits in the areas near the school. She also made us sing the Italian anthem in the classroom (which unfortunately many schools no longer do).
BEASTofTURIN
5 years, 5 months ago
Anyway, another very beautiful song is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0oHEYu9Ylo , sung by Bersaglieri Military Corp.

Translated in english the meaning is this:

With the baby in her arms, the cry is still on her eyes,
she had waited anxiously for his passage.
The Great War had broken the charm,
Italy his sons had to call:
They left that morning
towards the Italian border.

The Regiment leave,
Dad's Regiment,
high the banner to the wind
that one day the glory will kiss.
He leaves with a happy heart
whoever gladly gives his blood,
the Regiment leave,
Dad's Regiment.

Festive bells, victorious peace,
the Bersaglieri come back from the front!
Among other housewives, eager and anxious,
the bride waits with her little one.
Among songs, hurray and flowers
The winners are happy again.

The Regiment returns,
Dad's Regiment,
high the banner to the wind
kissed by the glory goes.
Come back with a happy heart
who at the return home does,
the Regiment returns,
but Dad doesn't come back.

Baby, raise your head,
you will not make your cry shine.
Your father's deeds
the Fatherland cann't forget.
The blood he has given
a day will be a spur to you,
when you'll be a soldier
in the father's regiment.

The blood he has given
a day will be a spur to you,
when you'll be a soldier
in the father's regiment.

It's a very touching and meaningful song.
moyomongoose
5 years, 5 months ago
From the translation I read, It is touching.

The band put on a good performance by the way.
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